Former England women all-rounder Arran Brindle has been awarded an honorary life membership by Marylebone Cricket Club.
The 33-year-old had a glittering 15-year international career with England, playing 11 Tests, 88 one-day internationals and 35 Twenty20s.
Brindle, an Ashes winner in 2005, 2008 and 2009, became the first woman in England to hit a century in men’s Premier League cricket when playing for Louth versus Market Deeping in Lincolnshire.
Having taken a break from cricket to start a family in 2005, she returned to England colours six years later before calling time on her international journey in 2014.
Brindle, who represented MCC women against a Rest of the World XI in the inaugural Lord’s bicentenary match last year, said: “I’m delighted to have been given this accolade and am very proud to be a member of such a prestigious club as MCC.
"There are some huge names from women’s cricket who are also honorary life members and I’m honoured to take my place alongside them.”
Former England team-mate and ECB’s Head of England Women’s Cricket, Clare Connor, has offered her congratulations to Brindle.
She said: "Arran has been a remarkable servant to the England women's cricket team and the county game, representing both Lancashire and Sussex.
“She was instrumental in the victorious 2005 Ashes summer, hitting her maiden Test century to save the first Test. She then left the game to start a family but came back even stronger to play for England from 2011-2014.
“She was a key member of the back-to-back Ashes winning team during 2013-2014 which capped off an impressive career.
“Arran was a true professional well before this new fully professional era started for England women's cricket and she thoroughly deserves this honour bestowed upon her by MCC."
Ex-Australia international Belinda Clark was also handed an honorary life membership.
MCC head of cricket John Stephenson added: “It’s a great pleasure to announce this news, and both women are extremely deserving of their Honorary Life Membership of MCC.
"Women’s cricket is going from strength to strength which is due in no small part to the contributions of players like Arran and Belinda, so we’re very happy to give them this recognition.”